Selling Baseball Cards in New Jersey: A Complete Guide
Baseball cards have been an American pastime for over 150 years. While the baseball card collecting hobby may not be as big as it was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there is still a very active marketplace for buying, selling, and trading baseball cards throughout the state of New Jersey. Whether you have a collection you want to liquidate, or you want to get into the business of selling cards to generate some side income, here is a complete guide to successfully selling baseball cards in the Garden State.
Getting Started
The first step is to figure out exactly what cards you have that are worth selling. Go through your entire collection, of both vintage cards from the 1960s and earlier as well as modern issues, and keep only the higher value rookie cards, stars, and relic/autograph cards. You’ll want to focus on grading those cards to determine their condition, as that severely impacts their value. Get the valuable cards graded by one of the major third-party graders like PSA, BGS, or SGC. This adds credibility and helps buyers authenticate the condition. You’ll also want to research recent sales of comparable graded cards on platforms like eBay to see what they are truly worth.
Pricing Your Cards
Properly pricing your cards is crucial to selling them successfully. You don’t want to overprice, as buyers will simply move on, but you also don’t want to leave money on the table. Refer to sales data from major online auction sites to get a good idea of what certain graded cards in similar condition have actually been selling for recently. Also factor in the general rise or decline of the overall card market. Cards tend to rise in value when a player is achieving milestones or successes, so you may be able to get a premium right after a great playoff performance for example. But cards also decline after players retire.
Marketplaces for Selling
There are a few primary marketplace options for selling baseball cards in New Jersey and nationwide:
eBay – Still the largest online marketplace. With millions of users, you have the greatest odds of finding buyers. But eBay and PayPal take around 13% in fees.
Local Card Shops – Great for unloading bulk common cards and building relationships. Shops like Long’s Cards in Bernardsville will pay cash but often at only 50% of market value.
Online Groups/Platforms – Facebook groups like “Sports Card Investors” allow direct buyer-seller interactions with no fees. BlowoutCards.com is a popular card-specific site.
Collectors Conventions – Attend shows in New Jersey like the Bergen Card Show to meet collectors face-to-face. Tables often cost $100-200 but it allows negotiating and avoiding fees.
Peer-to-Peer – Sell directly on Reddit pages like r/sportscardtracker or through personal sports card selling Facebook groups. More work but keep full sale price.
Shipping and Packaging
To get top dollar, you must ship cards safely and securely. For graded cards, ship in a rigid mailer or box with at least 1-inch of bubble/crumpled paper wrap on all sides. Consider signing up for shipping accounts with companies like USPS, UPS, or FedEx for discounted commercial rates. Always ask the buyer to add signature confirmation! Insuring packages based on the card’s actual value also provides peace of mind. Promptly ship once payment clears to maintain positive customer service reviews.
Taxes and Reporting
Anyone running a sports card resale business in New Jersey bringing in over $10,000 in net annual income must obtain a New Jersey Resale Certificate in addition to paying any applicable sales tax. Profits are also subject to income tax reporting. Consider keeping detailed records of all card purchases and sales for tax purposes. Consult with an accountant if you anticipate any tax implications from card transactions exceeding IRS annual reporting thresholds.
Use Social Proof to Boost Sales
Post photos of your best individual cards and full graded card collections for sale on platforms that allow sharing to a wider audience like Instagram. Use hashtags like #sportscards, #baseballcards, #cardcollecting to try and reach more potential buyers. Positive reviews from past customers who received their cards quickly and as described can instill trust in new buyers considering your listings.
Selling cards takes time and effort, but with the right approach, collectors in New Jersey and beyond can earn solid supplemental income through professionally marketing their cards online and at local shows. With so many options, take advantage of the active card marketplace and turn your childhood collections into real cash!
